The term Dianetics is now visible from Bishop Street North as the Church of Scientology completes its move into the former Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan building.

“We have been in Kitchener for many years, but with the expansion of that church we came to a point where we needed to look for larger premises to accommodate the growth,” stated Angela Ilasi, a spokesperson with the public affairs office of the Church of Scientology Canada. She agreed to answer questions from the Times via e-mail.

“With the opening of this new church, Cambridge will take its place in an international strategy to transform all Scientology Churches into Ideal Churches of Scientology,” Ilasi replied. “The purpose is to accomplish the goal L. Ron Hubbard set for Scientologists – to one day create churches that were the physical embodiment of Scientology technology to help all beings attain spiritual freedom.“

Along with a reception area, there will be a public information centre where people can take a self-guided tour through beliefs and practices, as well as the life and legacy of L. Ron Hubbard.

“The centre will present over 500 films that are available right at the touch of a button,” Ilasi said.

“Visitors will be able to come by any time and stay as often as they like.”

Scientology is described as a “religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the supreme being.”

Followers of Scientology extol the virtues of “exteriorization” – demonstrating that the spirit is separable from the body and mind – and that man is far more than a product of his environment, or his genes.

“Scientology is not a dogmatic religion in which one is asked to accept anything on faith alone,” according to the church’s website. “On the contrary, one discovers for oneself that the principles of Scientology are true by applying its principles and observing or experiencing the results.”

Becoming a Scientologist begins with several courses, followed by a personal counseling process called auditing, using an electronic device called an E-Meter, as part of the “clearing” process that includes a “purification rundown” – an all natural regiment that purports to free one of drugs and toxins.

The Church of Scientology has fallen under immense scrutiny and criticism in the past, with many former members accusing its officials of harassment, humiliation, confinement, physical punishment and misrepresentation, as well as criminal negligence for practicing medicine without a license.

An e-mail to the Times from the Project Chanology, Toronto Division, warned of “possible danger” in the community and said that acknowledgement of the church only lends credibility to what is a “criminally-convicted” organization in Ontario.

“Our group, Project Chanology, has been working locally and worldwide since 2008 to expose the abuses committed by the CoS on its members and the public,” the e-mail said. “Be assured that this is no ordinary church”.

The Chanology group provided supporting evidence of criminal convictions against the church in Ontario and points out that Narconon, a Scientology-related drug rehabilitation program was shut down in 2012 in Trois-Rivieres, Que. by local health authorities because it was deemed “dangerous” and had “no scientific basis to the treatment”.

“London, Ont. native and Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis publicly quit the Church of Scientology in 2009 (after being a member for 34 years) over CoS opposition to human rights and its abuse towards ex-members,” the e-mail noted. “He calls the church a ‘cult’.”

Celebrity controversies have shined a curious spotlight on the church in recent years. A new book by Pulitzer Prize winning author Lawrence Wright entitled Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief claims that the Church of Scientology only comprises 25,000-30,000 members, not the eight million it claims, and has more than $1 billion in liquid assets.

However, on its website, the church boasts more than 10,000 churches, missions and groups across 167 nations that welcome more than 4.4 million new people each year, speaking 183 languages, and drawing on 50,000 years of knowledge.

Ilasi says there are several thousand members in the local region alone and that “2012 saw the opening of more Ideal Churches of Scientology than any year in our history”, including new Ideal Churches in the U.S., Germany, Italy and Israel – 12 in all.

The Church of Scientology’s Canadian headquarters recently relocated from Toronto to a former resort in Mono, just west of Orangeville, that will allow for a campus with five buildings totaling 160,000 square feet.

Ilasi said the new building in Cambridge is going to present a multitude of benefits to the church and the community at large.

“Our new chapel will be open to the community for seminars, banquets, conferences and more. The Church of Scientology sponsors social programs that reach millions of individuals every week. These humanitarian programs include a worldwide human rights initiative, an equally far-ranging drug education, prevention and rehabilitation program, a global network of literacy and learning centers, and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program now comprising the world’s largest independent relief force. So we definitely look forward to collaborating with our wonderful community in Cambridge and the Waterloo Region.”

As for why someone would look into Scientology, people are curious about it; they are curious about themselves and have questions about life, Ilasi said.

“We get a lot of people visiting our churches who ask who we are and what we do. We always welcome anyone to come in and see for themselves.”

As for how people would learn more about Scientology, Ilasi suggests people visit the website at www.Scientology.org.

“Further, we always encourage people to come to our churches and find out for themselves. Our doors are open and everyone is welcome.”